Ascensia fosters product innovation through new Ascensia Diabetes Challenge

LISBON, Portugal — Ascensia Diabetes Care on Wednesday announced the launch of the Ascensia Diabetes Challenge, a global innovation competition that is seeking innovative digital solutions to support diabetes management and improve the lives of those living with type 2 diabetes.



The challenge aims to find new ways to help tackle the management of the global epidemic of type 2 diabetes by unearthing undiscovered solutions from diabetes innovators. Finalists, runners-up and the winner will all receive cash prizes to support further development of their ideas from a total prize fund of almost $250,000.



"At Ascensia we are excited to be launching this challenge, as we want to encourage innovation in our field and rethink how digital technology can help people with type 2 diabetes manage their day to day lives," stated Michael Kloss, CEO Ascensia Diabetes Care. "This challenge represents the modern approach to finding innovative solutions for people with diabetes, alongside our own R&D," he said. "We hope this challenge can generate novel ideas from undiscovered sources, and with Ascensia's support we want to be able to bring them to a global patient population."



The competition will seek submissions from Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific with entries open from Oct. 1, 2017 for Europe and Nov. 6, 2017 for Asia Pacific and the Americas. Entries can be submitted via the online portal at ascensiadiabeteschallenge.com.



Ascensia has partnered with yet2, an open innovation services company, to launch this global challenge. yet2 will be managing the submission process and initial review of entries.



"As a company that is focused on diabetes, we want to be driving the agenda in diabetes innovation, demonstrate our ongoing support for the diabetes community as a trusted partner, and show our commitment to continued research, innovation and development of new solutions," Kloss concluded.